Praying for Eyes to See and the Coming of Lent

 God has given me many gifts, but I tend to be deaf, dumb, and blind!! I pray for the eyes to see Him, the ears to hear Him, the heart to understand Him. I pray that He will give me the words to speak the words He wants me to speak. I pray that He will give me a heart of understanding, compassion and love for my neighbor, especially all those He puts into my life this day.

Lent is just around the corner and there are many opportunities for prayer!! 

EWTN is offering a free Lenten book: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/seasons-and-feast-days/lent-14353

Carmelites are also offering a book study and a retreat during Lent:

Book study:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndh-63qiXtk&feature=youtu.be

Retreat:www.retreat-online.karmel.at

Bible Study and Year of St. Joseph

 As we begin February 2021, it just seems to be time to begin anew and continue as well with this blog - less Facebook!! It's only been six years!! But as I pray, read, and spend time in contemplative prayer, I discover a relationship with Jesus and with myself that continues to grow and change. Nothing I do or say or think comes from me, but from He who loves each and everyone of us as if we were the only ones to love. His greatest desire is to give us the grace we need to live each day well!!

A group and I began a study from Ascension Press called the Bible Timeline with Jeff Cavins. It has been a "great adventure", as it is appropriately called. When we studied Abraham, I pondered on his choice to have a child with Hagar instead of waiting patiently for God's promise to be fulfilled through him and Sarah. What struck me is how often in my own life, I could not wait for God to fulfill His promises to me. Instead of seeking His will, I went full speed ahead doing my will even though time and again it led me nowhere but into more trouble and heartache. Discovering that life is an education of learning and growing has made me desire all the more to read, watch, and do whatever leads me closer to my Lord Jesus. And to avoid whatever leads me away from Him.

As a result of Abraham's impatience, he became the father of two nations rather than one. The nation that came from Ishmael, Hagar's son, and the nation that came from Isaac, Sarah's son. Two very different nations. How different the world might be if Abraham had been patient. How different my own world might be if I had been patient. It would be well for all of us to contemplate how the sin in our lives has created dark crevices here and there.

Now I follow along, with thousands of others, the daily Bible reading by Fr. Mike Schmitz. Yesterday he talked about the flashlight, the mirror and the sandpaper. "The Bible is like a flashlight that shines some light on our lives. And sometimes it's a mirror that reflects ourselves back to ourselves. And sometimes it's like sandpaper that sands off the rough edges." We need every aspect of the Bible to grow and become all that God's desires for us. 

In the Old Testament when God made His covenant with the Israelites, He urged them to trust Him and to teach their children. How obedient are we? He also said that "obedience is better than sacrifice."

And I belong to a prayer group that will begin reading the Consecration to Saint Joseph. We begin on Valentine's Day and end on the feast of St. Joseph, March 19. Looking forward to the journey.

Peace and great love to all!!

Awareness of the True Body and Blood

For two Fridays I sat in adoration as an 11am funeral Mass was being prepared on the other side of the curtained glass wall in the main church. I have watched in horror as participants in the funeral Mass have come into the chapel, walking and talking in front of the exposed Eucharist in the monstrance with no indication that they are even aware of the presence of Jesus Christ. Two different funerals, two different groups of people and my heart felt broken. Then I prayed that Jesus would give me a heart of love, compassion and understanding and I saw. I saw me in them - not that long ago. No awareness of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ present in the Eucharist. So no awareness either in the reception of Jesus in Holy Communion where Jesus is true flesh and true blood. How lonely and lost we humans are until we fully understand and discover His true presence. When we eat this fully consecrated bread and drink this fully consecrated wine we become one with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We grow in the life He has prepared for us. We receive the graces and gifts He longs to give us. We are prepared and fully armed for our inevitable confrontation with the evil one. Our desires are changed and we are eager to become less that Jesus might become more. We are open to the detachment and denial of temporal stuff that we might be filled with eternity! May God, who is all Love and Mercy, be with you as you journey through this day! Blessings!!

Greater than the Greatest Prophet | Word on Fire

Greater than the Greatest Prophet | Word on Fire

The link above is to an audio of a homily by Fr. Robert Barron on the readings from the Sunday Mass, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. It is only 13 minutes long. In it Fr. Barron speaks to the unity of the Trinitarian God versus the division caused by evil. The evil that we see in everyday life when God does not come first. The evil will trap us in its lies while our loving God will free us in truth. We have only to take the risk and discover the full freedom of God's great love for us! Open your heart this day to God's presence! Many blessings will come!

The Lord had not Yet Revealed Himself!

These words struck me and made me realize yet another truth! Taken from the book of Samuel, chapter 3: "At that time Samuel was not familiar with the Lord, because the Lord had not revealed anything to him as yet." It made me realize that so many do not yet know the Lord possibly because he has not yet revealed anything to them. Yet, in this chapter we discover that Eli points the way for Samuel. How many of us can point the way for our fellow travelers? How many of our fellow travlers will listen?

The First Commandment!

"I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me." This commandment is first for a reason. Today we have many strange gods that we put first in our lives, such as TV, sports, food, entertainment, comfort, and the list goes on. We all must ask ourselves each day, "What comes first in my life?" If God, the one true God, comes first then everything else will work for good. All the other commandments, all the choices we make, all the events that impact our lives will work for the good. We know that God comes first when we take time to pray, time in the morning, time in the evening and time throughout the day. The only way to be in relationship with another is to communicate and what better form of communication is there than prayer. God is love and he created us in love. Spend time with him today.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Dohertys